5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Thursday, June 26, 2014

From a Rowdies FIFA Watch Party to the kick off to St. Pete Pride Weekend, here are five things occurring in Florida on Thursday.

WFTS

Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida today.

WFTS

TAMPA - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

(1) PFC Stephen Peterson receives new home

A wounded veteran will finally get to move into his new home on Thursday.

PFC Stephen Peterson lost a limb in during an IED explosion while deployed in Afghanistan in July 2011. He spent two years recovering at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Peterson finally was able to move back to his native state of Florida last year.

Community Partners in Revitalization in conjunction with Texas-based Operation Finally Home offered Stephen the chance to own a mortgage-free home in the City of St. Petersburg.

A wall-raising ceremony took place last October, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the home, located at 1771 12th Avenue South, was not finished until recently.

St. Petersburg Rick Kriseman will be at the 10:00 a.m. dedication ceremony to welcome Peterson to the city.

(2) St. Pete Pride Weekend begins

The City of St. Petersburg will kick off Pride Weekend on Thursday with the raising of the Pride Flag over City Hall.

The flag will be raised during a public ceremony at 9:00 a.m.

"The St. Petersburg Pride celebration vibrantly showcases the diversity that enhances the quality of life in our community," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. "Pride is a time to celebrate our city of opportunity where the sun shines on all who come to live, work and play."

The Morean Arts Center will present a work of art that celebrates diversity by renowned artist Dale Chihuly to Mayor Rick Kriseman today. Carnival Persian Set, 2000, will be given to the Mayor in his officer at 4 p.m.

Kriseman plans to be the first St. Petersburg Mayor to march in Saturday's St. Pete Pride Parade leading a delegation of city employees. The Parade will roll off at sunset through Historic Kenwood starting at sunset on Saturday.

The new 130-room boutique hotel is located in the old Federal Courthouse in downtown Tampa. It has a signature restaurant, outdoor dining space, a 2,400-square-foot ballroom, and meeting space.

Completed in 1905, the Beaux-Arts style building was first used as a post office and custom house and later became a federal courthouse. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Le Méridien Tampa is part of the Starwoods Hotels chain. It is located at 601 North Florida Avenue.

(4) Delta Sigma Theta 44th Southern Regional Conference

Nearly five thousand people dressed in red and white will be in Tampa beginning on Thursday for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's 44th Southern Regional Conference.

Delta Sigma Theta is America's largest African-American public service sorority.

The conference is taking place at the Tampa Convention Center today through Sunday.

"The members of Delta Sigma Theta believe in service to others and to their community as a whole," said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. "Here in Tampa, they give their time and the energy a variety of causes, and we are a better city because of their efforts."

The conference kicks off with Community IMPACT Day. People living at Alpha House Tampa, a home for homeless pregnant women and mothers with young children, will attend a financial planning workshop and empowerment hour at the convention center today.

Other Delta Sigma Theta members will offer their time and services today to seniors at Whispering Oaks and inner-city youth at Computer Mentor Group.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies are hosting a watch party on Thursday for the USA-Germany World Cup game.

Team USA can qualify for the knockout phase of the 2014 FIFA World Cup by getting a win or draw today. The Americans can also advance with a loss if Portugal and Ghana draw, or if they win a tiebreaker against the winner of the Portugal-Ghana game.

Rowdies players Frankie Sanfilippo, Matt Pickens and Keith Savage will attend today's watch party at Cricketers in Dunedin. The party begins at 12:00 p.m.

Cricketers is located at 2634 Bayshore Boulevard in Dunedin.

The Rowdies will host another watch party for the FIFA World Cup Final on July 13 at Rococo Steak in St. Petersburg.

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